*AD – the items in this review was gifted to our family for this post. All opinions, as always, are our own.
Subscription boxes are a great way to have a regular routine or activity that feels new and refreshing each month. There are a bunch of different types of children’s subscription boxes, but having a STEM related box, with the aim of getting children interested in science, is always a good option! Robin was very excited to play with her Tinkerer Odyssey Box, Loopy Racers. This box had a launcher, a bunch of cars, and a ring of fire! Along with a booklet that had a comic about the project and a bunch of other suggestions for other activities that we could do.
Unpacking the Tinkerer Odyssey Box had a bunch of different packets with parts. The main part of this contraption was made of wood, which feels really durable compared to other boxes that are primarily made of cardboard. I do feel it wouldn’t have worked if it was made of cardboard! There are a bunch of little pieces within this kit, which is designed for 6+, but Robin (who is turning 8 this week) did find a little tough for her. The instructions themselves were very clear and easy to read, and there are even little drawings on some of the parts to show you exactly where to place foam stickers, that end up holding parts in place.
Most of these pieces are held together with either rubber bands or by slotting them together to the foam pieces. We got a lot of the base of the launcher finished without much struggling, however the loop itself is extremely challenging. You will have to bend the loop and then place in these little pins, that open up when placed through. So if you mess up, it’s a bit of a struggle to get them back out and push the pin back into a place where it can go in again. This was something that Robin couldn’t really do on her own at all, and that I, an adult, struggled to do without help. It was frustrating for Robin, and time consuming, but we worked on not giving up and talking about how worth it it would be in the end.
The instructions after this aspect wanted us to put the loop in our base, which I also found extremely challenging and not something that Robin could really do on her own. Once we had the loop in, our Tinkerer Odyssey Box was nearly completed, and we just had to make the ring of fire. The ring of fire is cardboard, but I do wish the base was wood as it falls over quite easily! Once everything was done, Robin had a fantastic time blasting out her cars. You basically pull back the handle until it clicks, put a car against the blue brace, then slam down on the handle to launch them. Amelia also found launching the cars to be fun, and they started launching them and trying to catch them!
Overall, we found the Tinkerer Odyssey Box to be a fun time, if a bit challenging. Robin also loves comics (I think everyone does at that age!) so she was interested in reading the booklet and finding new projects to try out as well. It’s very clear that the kit itself is high quality too and there were plenty of extra pieces when it came to the small items, so if we did misplace something when building, we’d have spares.
I gifted my nephew the Tinkerer Odyssey Box, watching his eyes light up with curiosity as he unpacked the science and art projects. I joined him in assembling the Plane Launcher, our laughter echoing as paper planes soared across the living room. I cherished the moments of shared discovery, as each project not only taught us about STEAM concepts but also strengthened our bond.
It sounds like such a fun and educational activity for kids. I love the idea of incorporating STEM learning into playtime, and the Loopy Racers kit seems like a blast.
My favorite toys for the kids for sure…Tinkere Odyssey seems awesome and very engaging…I will check it, thank you so much.
Thsi looks increadible and I am checking it out next as my God Daughter would love this kit!
This looks like a great subscription to try and encourage kids into STEM subjects. I never did anything like this in my spare time as a kid, maybe if I had I’d have enjoyed the subjects more haha x
It does sound like a bit of a challenge, something that I think my son would enjoy although he would probably need help too. I do think these types of subscriptions are great though!
This is such a great way to make learning fun and engaging for the kids. I love that they can do something with their hands and minds besides swiping! LOL.
The Tinkerer Odyssey Box sounds fun and educational! I like subscription boxes & the fact that this one focuses on STEM is a plus.
I love that this is both fun and entertaining but also engaging and educational! This would be a wonderful gift for the kids!